Charles Kuralt first visited Darwin in 1977, now a CBS reporter retraces the steps taken during his ‘On the Road’ seriesBy Kristen MillerStaff Writer

DARWIN, MN - Many may recall the CBS reporter, Charles Kuralt, and his “On the Road” series. Long-time Darwin residents may even recall his visit to their small town in 1977, when Kuralt interviewed the maker of the Darwin Twine Ball himself.

Now, 30 years later, Darwin hit the airwaves again in a series remembering Kuralt’s travels across the country.

In “Finding That Ball of Twine Once Again,” by CBS Evening News reporter Steve Hartman said, “To the town of Darwin, MN, it has become a treasure  a treasure now kept safe under lock and gazebo.

“It’s a treasure Charles Kuralt discovered 30 years ago, when he pulled over his RV to interview the greatest collector … of all twine.

“In his original dispatch, Kuralt reported, ‘Like many rural Americans of his age and upbringing, Francis Johnson believes in thrift and conservation.’”

In 1977, Johnson told Kuralt in his original interview, “My mother taught me to not waste anything.”

At that time, the ball was 38 feet wide and 13 feet tall. Kuralt said if the ball were unraveled it would stretch from Darwin to the Gulf of Mexico.